About Dickinson College

In 1783, Benjamin Rush, a revolutionary in both spirit and life, established Dickinson College with the intent of providing a different kind of liberal-arts education.

Here, students are encouraged to be actively engaged with the wider world and challenged to think differently and act boldly. Dickinsonians are guided by a core set of tenets—to be decisive, useful, curious and unafraid to take risks.

We produce critical thinkers who see how everything is connected. Graduates forever ready to make a difference.

This is how we’ve taught successful graduates of all kinds, from lawyers to researchers to writers to CEOs. Dickinson’s brand of liberal arts has been around for more than 200 years for one reason—it works.

Campus information

Wander around Dickinson and you’ll see a large number of red Adirondack chairs scattered across the campus.

Sometimes it’s a single chair a student has moved to a quiet place to work alone. Other times they’re in twos and threes where a couple of students have spent time catching up on The Daily Show. The red chairs are not only a school tradition; they also represent our strong sense of community. And it’s that type of engagement that allows our students to comfortably take a seat anywhere.

THE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE
We're a residential college, so students live on campus all four years. From residence halls to apartments and suites to special-interest houses, learn more about the place you will call home.

DINING OPTIONS
Enjoy a morning coffee at the library's Biblio Cafe, meet a friend for lunch at The Quarry, or grab a bite in one of the HUB's diverse dining spots.

THE CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY
We boast one of the country's most beautiful campuses, in one of America's most livable cities. Find out what makes Carlisle and our campus so attractive.

SOCIALIZE
Follow us, become a fan or see what we've pinned. View Dickinson's social wall to find out what the community is talking about now.

STUDENT LIFE
The Division of Student Life supports a rich and varied program of residential programs; clubs and organizations; internship, employment and volunteer opportunities; cultural and diversity initiatives and recreational and leisure programs for our students.

Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, a historic town in south central Pennsylvania. It is part of the metropolitan region of Harrisburg, the state capital. The 144-acre main campus is a few blocks from the center of town.

Accommodation

First-year students are assigned to live in one of two areas on campus: "Morgan Field" in Adams or Drayer or "The Quads" in Armstrong, Atwater, Baird-McClintock, Buchanan, Conway, Cooper, Davidson-Wilson, or Longsdorff. As a member of the first-year community, you will have the opportunity to participate in social activities, community service with a local community partner, attend a faculty dinner, and be able to serve in a leadership role through involvement in the Community Board.

Additionally, students live in close proximity to others in their first-year seminar or in a learning cluster by participating in a learning community. In the Fall semester, learning community programs are shaped by the First-Year Seminar Faculty working with Learning Community Coordinators.